The personages who will appear in the End Times and the events that will take place during that period are most important issues that mankind has been keenly awaiting for hundreds of years. Recently, however, the portents, reports and glad tidings regarding the End Times have been ignored by some, and there have been attempts to have these facts concealed or forgotten.
According to the portents of the End Times, revealed in detail in the hadiths of our Prophet Muhammad (saas), the End Times will consist of two periods. The first stage of this holy time will be a period of corruption, moral degeneration, disasters, conflict, war and want. The second part of the End Times, however, will be a period full of beauty, when, with the return of the Prophet ‘Isa (as) and the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (as), peace, security and freedom rule the world and there will be plenty and abundance, and people will be content in all respects.
The hadiths contain reports of hundreds of portents revealing when and in what manner the End Times will commence. The fact that the portents reported by our Prophet (saas) 14 centuries ago are one by one coming about in our own time makes it very clear that the first stage of the End Times has begun. With the successive coming about of these portents the Islamic world has entered into a most holy expectation: that of the return to earth of the Prophet ‘Isa (as) and, together with Hazrat Mahdi (as), his elimination of the corruption of the dajjal and causing the moral values of Islam to prevail over all the world.
By Allah’s leave, those people who witness the portents of the End Times may hope that the coming of the Prophet ‘Isa (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) is close at hand. Every single portent is a reminder that we are living in a most holy time. These historic glad tidings are, by Allah’s leave, about to take place.
Our beloved Prophet (saas) has told all believers living in the End Times of these glad tidings, by emphasising this holy period in the hadiths:
"Hazrat Mahdi (as) is from my Ahl al-Bayt and is of my descent. He will fill the Earth with justice. He will absolutely set out together with Isa (as) to help Isa (as) to kill dajjal in Palestine, the region called Lud’s Gate.”1
However, there are those who are not awaiting these gladdest of tidings that all Muslims are expecting with great excitement with the same enthusiasm. In defiance of the hadiths regarding the End Times, the truth of which is agreed by all great Islamic scholars, they remain apathetic and uninterested, and even wish Muslims to forget these matters. There can be no doubt that awaiting Hazrat Mahdi (as), whose moral virtues our Prophet (saas) compared to his own and whom he praised for his elevated attributes, and a prophet such as ‘Isa (as) whose life was filled with miracles, is not something about which one can be apathetic or else forget about.
THE COMING OF THE HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) IS A TIDING BESTOWED ON US BY OUR PROPHET (SAAS). The tidings of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as) have been imparted by our Prophet (saas) in person, and there are a great many hadiths on the subject that are agreed to be completely trustworthy (tewatur: a powerful report which cannot be untrue and based upon an entire community). In the words of one hadith: "HAVE THE GOOD NEWS OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS). He is a person from Quraish and of my Ahl al-Bayt." (Short Book of Portents of the End Times, p. 13), this matter represents great glad tidings for all Muslims.
To be living in the End Times and witness the greatest intellectual struggle in history is a major blessing bestowed on only a limited number of people alive this century. Every sincere Muslim who is aware of this will wish to follow the Prophet ‘Isa (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as), chosen and given duties by Allah, and to support them in their struggles. For true believers, the dominion of Islamic moral values over the entire world will be the source of the greatest happiness in this world. The aim behind this article is once again to recall these important events and glad tidings of the End Times which must not be forgotten.
THE DAJJAL (ANTI-CHRIST) IS ACTIVE…
One of those matters regarding the End Times that some would have people forget is the emergence of the dajjal and the atheistic corruption he will organise on Earth. We have already referred in previous articles to the fact that the dajjal (anti-christ), about whom detailed information is provided in the hadiths, has already initiated his activities in these years. (Allah knows the truth.)
In the hadith "Since the day Allah created Prophet Adam (as), there has not been a fitnah greater than of the dajjal’s." 2 Our Prophet (saas) has noted the scale of the corruption of the dajjal and has warned all Muslims against this threat. Indeed, the influence of the system of the dajjal over the peoples of the world can be felt today. The difficulties, troubles and oppression to which Muslims in many countries are subjected are increasing day by day. It is clear that the destructive effect of atheism in societies plays a major role in all forms of oppression, injustice and chaos in the modern world. The eradication of the theory of evolution and Darwinist thought, which those who are attempting to spread atheism in the world use as their major support, is for that reason a matter of the greatest importance. Despite this obvious truth, however, some people seek to downplay the significance of the intellectual struggle against Darwinism and insist on failing to understand that the dajjal, described as the worst corruption, implements this corruption through the theory of evolution.
On the other hand, although everyone agrees that there is a major moral degeneration across the world, the way that certain circles attempt never to raise the issue of or to conceal the causes underlying this degeneration is noteworthy in terms of the widespread influence of the system of the dajjal. The fact is that this damaging moral degeneration, which affects everyone in one way or another, can only be remedied by the unmasking of the influence of the system of the dajjal that lies behind it.
Events taking place in the world show that the dajjal has already begun operations. This indicates that the appearance of the Hazrat Mahdi (as) is also approaching. (Allah knows the truth.)
Some of the hundreds of the portents of the appearance of the Hazrat Mahdi (as) that are now coming true OR HAVE TAKEN PLACE are as follows: 1) THE INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN 2) THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR 3) THE STOPPING OF THE WATERS OF THE RIVER EUPHRATES 4) ECLIPSES OF THE SUN AND MOON DURING RAMADAN 5) THE BIRTH OF A COMET 6) AN ATTACK ON AND THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD IN THE KAABA 7) FIRE BEING SEEN FROM THE EAST 8) THE INVASION OF IRAQ 9) AN ARMY SINKING IN THE DESERT 10) WIDESPREAD SLAUGHTER PRIOR TO THE APPEARANCE OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)11) CHAOS AND CONFUSION EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD 12) CORRUPTION IN WHICH EVEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE KILLED 13) THE DESTRUCTION OF GREAT CITIES 14) INCREASED NUMBERS OF EARTHQUAKES. The successive realisation of the hadiths regarding the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (as) points to a specific time frame. The way that all the portents have been taking place in succession since the beginning of the 14th century, according to the Hijri calendar, (1979-1980), makes it very clear that the time we are living in is that in which Hazrat Mahdi (as)is on the Earth. (Allah knows the truth.)
THE COMING OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) IS APPROACHING…
Heading the list of the major events of the End Times is the emergence of Hazrat Mahdi (as) and the establishment of an Islamic Union under his leadership. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be a means whereby people live by the moral values of the Qur’an and he will make an Islamic union under his leadership a reality. In some hadiths our Prophet (saas) has clearly given a date of 1400, Hijri style, (1979-1980 according to the Gregorian calendar), for the coming of the Hazrat Mahdi (as) and has imparted the glad tidings of the leadership of this holy individual. One of these hadiths reads: "People will gahter around Hazrat Mahdi (as) in the year 1400."3
This glad news will increase believers’ joy and enthusiasm. In addition to the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), through the hand-written works they have written and that have survived from their day to the present, Islamic scholars have also transmitted the joy and enthusiasm of these great glad tidings and have been a means whereby the matter has been kept alive for believers. Indeed, a number of portents that have come about in our own day show that the coming of the Hazrat Mahdi (as) is very close.
There is no doubt that every new piece of information learned about the subject will be a means of enhancing Muslims’ excitement. However, certain circles are unwilling for the subject of Hazrat Mahdi (as) to be discussed in the open. They want people to forget about the subject by keeping it quiet and imagine that they can prevent these glad tidings. Almighty Allah has of course told us that He will foil all these endeavours: “They desire to extinguish Allah’s Light with their mouths. But Allah refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though unbelievers detest it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth to exalt it over every other religion, even though polytheists detest it.”(Surat at-Tawba: 32-33)
BEDIUZZAMAN’S STATEMENTS REGARDING THE END TIMES CANNOT BE IGNORED
As we have already discussed in detail in previous articles, one of the subjects to which Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, the renovator of the 13th century, Hijri-style, attaches the greatest importance is that of the End Times. Bediuzzaman set out the portents and significant personages of this holy age for Muslims over many pages and in considerable details. He made important statements that act as a guide for Muslims on the subjects of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as) and the way he will bring Islamic values to prevail on Earth. These valuable descriptions, which shed light on the period we are living in, cannot be ignored or disregarded in any manner whatsoever.
THE WAY TO AN ISLAMIC UNION HAS BEEN OPENED UP
Careful attention reveals that there have been lately frequent references to an Islamic Union in the written and visual media. Presidents, prime ministers and politicians from various countries, television programme producers, various magazines and opinion shapers have all expressed their desires on this issue. In addition, the taking of some concrete steps to enable this union to come about is a most pleasing development. The road leading to an Islamic Union is moving ahead, but the really important thing here is that this subject is a herald of the End Times and needs to be looked at from that point of view. By Allah’s leave, this union will be established by means of Hazrat Mahdi (as). This task has already been successfully completed in his destiny. Yet this knowledge must not lead to any relaxation. Muslims’ responsibility is to keep the issue constantly alive and on the agenda, to monitor events and inform all Muslims and raise their awareness of this subject.
THE PROPHET ‘ISA (AS) WILL COME TO EARTH FOR A SECOND TIME…
Attempts are also being made to cause people to forget and cover up another welcome event concerning the End Times, the second coming to earth of the Prophet ‘Isa (as).
The fact is, however, that the second coming of the Prophet ‘Isa (as) is a fact imparted to believers in verses of the Qur’an and the hadiths of our Prophet (saas). Some of these hadiths read as follows:
"I swear to Allah in Whose hands is my life that the descent of Isa (as), the son of Mary, as a just rules is close."4
"Within my community Isa (as) ibn Mary will be a just ruler and a fair imam (in administration), he will crush the cross and kill the swine…As a pot is filled with water so does the Earth with peace. There will also be unity of religion, and no longer will anyone worship someone other than Allah." 5
As revealed in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the Prophet ‘Isa (as), whom Allah raised into His presence two thousand years ago (Surat an-Nisa, 158), will return to Earth again and will, together with Hazrat Mahdi (as) and by the leave of Allah, be a means whereby peace and security are established in the world. Moreover, many events and phenomena that have recently taken place also show that the coming of this valued guest is close at hand. (Allah knows the truth.)
For that reason, the utmost must be made of the period we are living in, and all attitudes and moral values that might embarrass the Prophet ‘Isa (as) when he comes must be strictly avoided. One of the attitudes to be avoided, and perhaps the most shameful, is without doubt to cover up this fact and try to cause people to forget about it, rather than celebrating it. For that reason, it is of the greatest importance that sincere believers keep the extraordinary nature of the return of this holy emissary after two thousand years constantly on the agenda, and that they prevent any relaxation or apathy on the part of certain persons.
Salvation for those longing for justice, peace, order and virtue is, by the leave of Allah, close at hand. Many developments taking place are signs that this salvation is approaching.
People who witness this salvation may, by Allah’s leave, hope that the coming of the Prophet ‘Isa (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) is close at hand. Every sign is a reminder that we are living in a holy period. By the will of Allah, these historic tidings awaited for hundreds of years are about to become reality.
There have been frequent references to an Islamic Union in the written and visual media. The longing for such a union is expressed by certain circles.
There can be no doubt that living in such a holy time, one that will restore Islam to its true essence, that will be a means whereby people come to believe, and that will establish a great unity among Muslims is a great blessing for all Muslims. It must not be forgotten that remaining uninterested and apathetic in the face of such great and welcome events awaited by the whole Islamic world and seeking to have others forget them may be a source of terrible shame in the future for those who display such attitudes when, by Allah’s leave, the Prophet ‘Isa (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) appear. Our Lord has spoken of this holy time in the Qur’an:
Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do right actions that He will make them successors in the land as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their deen with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. ‘They worship Me, not associating anything with Me.’ Any who are disbelievers after that, such people are deviators. (Surat An-Nur: 55)
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